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Contemplative Connection
Gathering to Grow

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In This Edition

The Third Wave by Adam Luedtke
Schedule Alert
Holy Week
Workshops with Patty Forsberg
Weekly Schedule

The Third Wave: Participating in the Emergence of Contemplative Community

I believe we have arrived at a new moment in the contemplative movement, a moment of emergence. Next week I have the privilege of gathering with 14 other contemplatives who are cultivating and participating in the emergence of contemplative community. It also occurs to me that I am deeply privileged to be surrounded by each person in our Contemplate Lincoln community as we are collectively participating in this emergence. This is what I am calling the third wave of the modern Christian contemplative movement.

Contemplation has been a part of the Christian faith since the beginning, since Jesus first stealthily escaped for a night of solitude with God. Jesus was well versed in contemplation because it has deep roots in the Jewish tradition as well. Throughout the history of the Christian tradition contemplation has waxed and waned, gone undercover, and been rediscovered again and again. Beginning in the middle ages, and ramping up during the enlightenment, contemplative prayer and practice began to be more and more sequestered to monasteries. Contemplative practices were reserved for the few, for monks and nuns who entered into cloistered contemplative life. Though one could argue, and I would, that life brings everyone into contemplative moments whether or not we are taught formal practices.

Then something happened. The fore-bearers of the modern contemplative movement emerged through exquisite writings and awakened a whole new generation of contemplatives. Merton planted new seeds of contemplation, Thurman invited the the disinherited to contemplative prayer and sparked a social justice movement, and Keating gave us four steps anyone could follow. This was the first wave of the modern Christian contemplative movement. The second wave came as retreat leaders, teachers, and speakers emerged from all over the world to teach contemplative practice, lead weekend retreats, and certify others in teaching contemplative prayer methods.

Several years ago I began a journey to find community. In that context I began to notice I was not alone. During every retreat Q & A the same questions always came up. “What do we do after the retreat? What do we do in between retreats? How do we connect with others? After the retreat I feel so alone.” It is out of these questions that the third wave emerges. An emergence each one of us is participating in and co-creating. We are co-creating this together, you and I at Contemplate, and contemplatives all over the place who are also answering this call. How exciting, we are co-creators participating in what God is doing next. Participating in this movement into authentic community that practices, learns, grows, and does life together. Through this we transform ourselves, each other, and our world. May it be so! And thank you for embarking on this journey with me and supporting the emergence of the third wave.

Alert! Some Events On Break Next Week

All Activities Resume on the 27th. Joselyn and Adam will be a St. Benedicts hosting a retreat.

No Contemplative Conversation Group Sunday March 20th
No Lectio Divina Monday March 21st
No Contemplative Wespace Wednesday March 23rd
No CC Joy Unspeakable Book Study Wednesday March 23rd or Thursday March 24.
All Other Events and Groups Go On As Planned

Holy Week Activities On Zoom

The word “Tenebrae” comes from the Latin meaning “darkness.” The Tenebrae is an ancient Christian service that makes use of gradually diminishing light through the extinguishing of candles to symbolize the events of the last two days of Jesus life.

Maundy Thursday Tenebrae

Thursday, April 14
Description: A Tenebrae service reflecting on The Last Supper, communion, the new commandment, and Jesus’ arrest in Gethsemane. If you want to join us in communion have supplies nearby. Don’t worry about what you bring God will make use of it!
Optional supplies up to 6 candles if you want to extinguish candles during our journey through the story together.

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMoc-yhrj8oGd3uYZM_KkJrwXXDw6kp970V

Good Friday Tenebrae

Friday, April 15
A Tenebrae service reflecting on the passion story. Our time will include liturgy, scripture, and silence. Optional supplies, up to 7 candles if you want to extinguish candles during our journey through the story together.

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lduChqDsjHdzFxP1WHEnZqYpKyJDVtM1a

Easter Sunday

Sunday, April 17
Description: A liturgical and contemplative celebration through Celtic inspired liturgies from Iona Abbey Community and music. We gather as a resurrection people in communion with all saints around the world on this sacred day to celebrate hope and resurrection.

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtdOmoqjIoH9ygGrJYmh7olAJcx5cZzPh-

A Summer of Enneagram

NOT your ordinary personality test. Yes, you can take a test but that is not even the tip of the iceberg. With the Enneagram you will gain insight into who you are and how you got here, and maybe even why. You will learn what healthy and unhealthy changes look like, spiritual practices to move toward mature transformation. The enneagram is a life-long learning and leaning into who we are in this magnificent universe. In this 4 session course spread over 4 months Patty will take us to the depths of the wisdom of the Enneagram with the spaciousness to fold it into our lives. Cost $100 some scholarships available. Course will have some reading and require the purchase of a book.

Schedule: All classes 9:30am-12:30pm CST
May 21st
June 18th
July 16h
August 13th

All events are on Zoom!
Links:

Lectio Divina Mondays 9:15am: Register via this link on zoom
Pray the scriptures. We read a passage 4 times with short silences followed by discussion.

Centering Prayer Tuesdays 9:15am: Register via this link on zoom. Simple contemplative prayer in which we consent to the transformative power of God in lives.

Contemplative Wespace Wednesday 9:15am: Register via this link on zoom. A whole body meditation awakening us to our deep connection to each other, physical reality, and each other. Our time also includes a brief check-in.

BioSpiritual Focusing Thursdays 9:15am: Register via this link on zoom. A practice that provides a way to bring the body’s sense for grace and God into everyday awareness, helping you to become more fully present to yourself, others and to God.

Contemplative Movement Fridays 5:30pm-6:30pm: Register via this link on zoom. A contemplative whole body experience for every body.

House Church Sunday’s 4pm-5pm: Register via this link on zoom. Worship, conversation, and contemplation. A house church style church service with Eucharist.

Contemplative Conversation Sundays at 2:30 PM (The Work of the People Short Films & Other Lectures and Talks) Register via this link on zoom. We watch films with today’s influential theologians and contemplatives gaining wisdom and finishing with a time of sharing.

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The Contemplative Connection II